Radio period selecting device



April 19, 1932. E. BRUGGER RADIO vPERIOD SELECTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2o, 1930 6 sheets-sneer 1 INVENTOR LCM/5 9m/6 65@ BY VV ATTORNEYS April 19, 1932. E, BRUGGER RADIO PERIOD SELECTING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1950 INVENTOR EMME BRI/@GER www ATTORNEYS April 19, 1932. E, BRUGGER RADIO PERIOD SELECTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR f77/LE BRUGGE/Q, BY 45W ATTORNEYS' April 19, 1932.

E. BRUGGER 1,854,643

RADIO PERIOD SELECTING DEVICE BY 1 I WM TTORNEYS April 19, 1932. E. BRUGGER RADIO PERIOD SELECTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2'0, 1930 6 sheets-sheet 5 fig/ 1 NvENToR IM/LE BRL/66 ER BY WMM April 19, 1932. E, BRUGGER RADIO PERIOD SELECTING DEVICE 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 20,

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Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMILE BRUGGER, OF VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T ATLANTIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK RADIO PERIOD SELECTING DEVICE Application filed February 20, l1930. Serial No. 429,882. e

This invention relates to time controlled circuits-and more particularly to an attachment for a radio set. Its object is to enable an automatic predetermined opening and closing of circuits and when applied to a radio set to enable the user to determine in advance the intervals for the entirel twentyfour hours during which the local operating radio circuit will be closed.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an element driven from a timing mechanism such as a clock, which element may itself directly carry circuit controlling keys or contact-making pieces or said element may be associated with a member which carries the keys or cont-act members. These keys may be uniformly spaced to determine the interval during which the circuit is closed.

A further feature of the invention consists in the provision of a contact member' or commutator which also carries the said keys or contact'closing pieces, which pieces may be positioned to determine whether at a given time the circuit to be controlled is to be opened 0r closed during the ensuing period of time. Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, 'in

which,

Figure 1 is an elevation and part sectional i view, the section being taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section aldng the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 2a is a diagrammatic view of the attachment as applied or associated with a radio receiving set; y

Figure 3 is a view along the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5 5 of Figure 7 Figure 6 is an enlarged section partly broken away along-the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 5 but showing a modified construction;

Figure 9 is a detail showing a modified commutator Figure 10 is an elevation partly broken away showing a portion, of a panel board and the modified arrangement of indicating dials and circuit controlling keys;

Figure 11 is a section along the line 11-11 of Figure 12;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a portion of housing which may be a panel board of a radio set or a separate housing (i6 depending on whether the control devices for the radio set are to be immediately con nected with the radio or to be located at a distant point.

A constant speed motor or clockwork 2, 70 Figure 2, is secured Iin `the casing, and to an d'arbor 4 thereof which makes one rotation an hour there is secured one member of a clutch 6. The other clutch member 8 is carried by a shaft 10 suitably supported in 7i bearings 12. Fastened to the clutch member 8 is an arm 13 shown in dotted lines in 'Figure 1 and in full lines in Figure 2.

Parallel to the arbor 4 is a shaft 14 supported in a sleeve 16 which surmounts a S0 bracket 18, Figure 3. On this shaft is loosely mounted a star wheel 20 which may have a number of teeth equal to the intervals during which it is desired to have the radio operate. In the form of device shown in Figures 1, 2, 8 3 and 4 this star wheel is provided with 24 teeth, giving hour intervals of circuit closings. l

The shafts 14 and 10 are spaced such a disgn tance apart and the arm 13 is of such a length V in relation to the diameter of the star wheel that as the shaft 10 rotates the arr.` 13 secured thereto will engage the star wheel 2O and move it a certain distance once an hour. 5 This wheel, however, is not moved positively its full step under positive drive of the arm 13 for reasons which will be explained in connection with the Contact device or commutator. 1U

This contact piece or commutator is constructed `as follows Below the star wheel 20 as viewed in Figure 2, and loosely carried by the shaft 14 is an insulating piece 22 which takes the form n of two circular disks connected by a sleeve.

ception of a circuit-bridging pin or key 28.

Each segment is suitably numbered, the two numbers being located on the insulating piece 22 as shown in Figure 1 and run from 1 to l2 arranged in two series for a. m. and p. m., Contact brushes 30 and 32 are spring pressed intovengagement with the outer edges of the conducting ring 23 and segments 24.

The local operating circuit for the radio is diagrammatically indicated in Figure 2a, the current entering, for instance, by the lead 34 and passing along' a conductor 35 to the radio set. The circuit leaves the set by the conductor 36 where it is controlled by the usual hand switch 37 and if said switch is closed the current will then pass to the other side of the circuit at 38. The present attachment does not in any way interfere with the operation of the radio through the medium of the switch 37. If the switch 37 is opened as shown in Figure 2a, then the circuit will pass from 36 through the conductor 40 to the lead 42 and to the brush 32. If one of the keys 28 is in the position .shown at the left in Figure 2 the circuit will then pass through the key bridging the particular segment 24 and the ring 23 and will connect to the other side of the circuit through the conductor 44 and hence through switch 46 and conductor 48 to the lead 38. The switch 46 simpl serves as a means to render the attachment ineffective at the will of the user.

From the construction thus far described it will be understood that since the star wheel 20 is moved one step each hour then it follows that a contact piece 24 and the ring 23 Will be in engagement with their corresponding brushes 30 and 32 for a like period. It will be noted, however, that the circuit through the radio set is not closed during this period unless a particular key 28 is in its inner position bridging the contact member 24 and ring 23. If a key such as the one shown at the right in Figure 2 is out then the contacts will not be bridged and the circuit will not be closed during the period, even though the contact members associated with the right hand pin 28 are in position Vto be engaged by the brushes 30 and 32. It is therefore only necessary to adjustthose keys corresponding Y ure 1, the star wheel 20 is to those hours of the day or night when it is V desirable to have the radio operative and without any further thought on the, part of the user the radio will become effective during those hours and will be automatically disconnected at the end of the hour for which keys have been set. By'arranging the circuit as shown in Figure 2a the closing of the switch 37 will at any time cause the radio to become effective even though at this particular time movement of the contact segments 24 in en! gagement with the brush shall be quick, provision is made for a quick movement of the commutator carrying the Contact segments. This is conveniently done by providing a pin 50 fastened to the commutator and projecting through a sloty52 of the star Wheel 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. This pin is also shown in dotted lines in F igure.` The star Wheel 20v is also controlled by a pawl 54v having its faces properly inclined as shown in Figure 1 and urged into engagement with the star teeth by a spring 56. A small spring 58 is connected between the pin 50 and a pin 60, the latter projecting from the star wheel 20. This spring tends to keep the pin 50 in engagement with the upper end of the slot 52 as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 1 -shows the parts positioned just before the arm 13 has engaged a tooth of the wheel 20 and is about to move it. 32 is about in the center of a segment 24 and the pawl 54 is in engagement with two adjacent teeth of the wheel 20. As the arm 13 moves in the direction of the arrow 62, Fig- Due to the slot 52, however, the commutator is not moved but the lost motion afforded by the slot is taken up. The commutator is held in position by frictional engagementbetween the brushes 30 and 32 and the surfaces of the conductor ring and segments are then engaged, the shape of these being such as to tend to put pressure on the springs connected to the brushes and thereby resisting any tendency to move the commutator. At this point it may be stated that the only force tending to move the commutator at this moment is the pull of the light spring 58. During the movement which'has just been described the spring 58 has been tensioned but it is not sufficiently strong to overcome the friction caused by the brush springs and consequently the commu tator remains in the position shown in Figure 1. When, how- The brush I l positively moved.

ever, the arm 13 has driven the wheel 2O a f Lese-,ees

little more than a half step, said arm is free of the wheel. At this time, however, the pawl 54 has been -forced up the side of the advancing tooth and has passed just beyond the apex of said tooth and the spring 56`acts to pull the pawl back to normal position and in doing so snaps the wheel 20 through another half step movement and the parts again assume the position shown in Figure 1 except that the arm 18 has cleared the tooth which it has justdriven. During the half step of movement brought about by the pawl 54 the commutator will be driven a half step because the lower edge of the slot 50, as shown in Figure 4, was just previously in contact with the pin and therefore the second half step movement of the star wheel 20 carried along the commutator with it. At the same time the spring 58 is free to act and move the commutator another half step to the upper end of the slot as shown in Figure 4, thereby positioning another contact segment 24 opposite its associated brush. The parts then remain in this position for another hour when a similar cycle of operations recurs.

It is obvious that some means must be provided whereby the commutator is set in accordance with the local time and for this purpose the shaft 10 is made to slide in its bearings, its outer end being provided as shown in Figure 2 with a thumb piece 64. A collar secured to the shaft 10 confines a spring 66 between itself and the bearing 12 and normally holds the shaft in such a position that the clutch members 6 and 8 are in engagement. By pulling the shaft downwardly as shown in Figure 2, the clutch may be disconnected and the shaft 10 rotated without disturbing the clockwork. Upon each complete rotation the arm 13 will engage the star wheel 20 and in cooperation with the pawl 54 move said star wheel one step. The star wheel 20 is in engagement with another star wheel 68 secured to a shaft 70 and carrying a disk 72 on which are inscribed numerals from 1 to 12, once repeated. This star wheel is positioned by a spring pressed pawl 69. The casing is provided with a sight opening 74 through which these numbers are visible. After the hour has been properly set, further rotation of the shaft 10 provides for properly setting the arm 13 corresponding to the minute reading of a clock. A dished disk 76 is splined to the shaft 10 so as to move with the shaft, said disk being provided with the indications 0 to 55 giving readings every five minutes. Single minutes may be estimated or indicated if desired. A pointer 7 8 serves to indicate when the disk 76 is properly set. The purpose of having 76 shaped as shown is to provide a sort of a housing for the knob 64 thereby enablingthe cover or door 80 to close flush with the casing. Said door is provided with a sight opening 82 to enable the numbers on the disk 76 to be seen when the door is closed. It will thus be noted that the two disks 72 and 76 act as a time indicator. v

ln the form of device shown in Figures 1 to 4 the commutator consists of a ring 23 and twenty-four segments 24, one corresponding to each hour throughout the day. It is, of course, to be understood, that a greater or lesser number might be provided and half hour intervals might be obtained by having 48 teeth on the wheel 20 instead of 24 teeth. Difficulties, however, are encountered when the teeth on the wheel are made too fine, and ordinarily half hour intervals are not needed. lt is frequently desirable, however, to have the radio operate for a half hour period, say for instance, in the morning, and to provide for this a somewhat modified mechanism has been provided. This mechanism is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 and is particularly adapted for the interval between 6.30 and 7 a. m.

Referring to Figure 5, the clockwork 2, clutch members 6 and 8, shaft l14 and sleeve 16 are of the same construction and arrangement as described inconnection with Figures 1 to 4. The star Vwheel 84 is similar to the start wheel 20 but two of its teeth are modified as shown at 86, 87 and 88, Figure 5. Fawl 54 and spring 56 are precisely the same as in the first described form.

rThe leads 42 and 44 are also the same as are the brushes 30 and 32, and likewise the keys 28. The commutator is slightly different and is indicated in Figure 5 at 90 and carries contact segments 24 which are in all respects similar to the contact segments described in the first form. The segment for the hour 6 a. m., however, is only half the width of the hour segments 24, and the segment for 6.30 is likewise modified and is only half the size of the segment 24. rlhese are indicated by 92 and 94, Figure 7 The upper portion of the commutator carries a disk 96, Figure 5, rigid therewith or suitably secured thereto, said disk having a slot 100 for the reception of a pin 102 projecting downwardly from the star wheel 84, as shown in Figure 5. A spring 104 connects with a pin 106 carried by the disk 96. The star wheel 84 has pivoted to it at 108 a lever 109 which pivotal movement is limited by a slot 110 engaging a pin 111 carried by the wheel 84. The tail of the lever is pressed upon by a light spring 112 and urges the lever 109 to the position shown in full lines in Figure 6. The disk 96 has a smooth periphery with the exception of a shoulder 114.

The shaft 10, Figure 5, is the same as the shaft 10 previously described, but in addition to the arm 13 there is another arm 116 also secured to the shaft 10. The arms 13 and 116, of course, may be made integral and this would probably be. the. way in which these parts would be actually manufactured. The

star wheel 84 is moved one step every hour by the arm 13 in cooperation with the pawl 54 exactly as in the previously described form. The arm 116 is out of the plane of the star wheel and does not function except at certain definite positions of the wheel 84. Figure 6 shows the parts as they are positioned between 6 a. 1n. and 6.30 a. 1n. IVith the parts so positioned, the contact segment 92 is in cooperation with the brush 30 and the pawl 54 is between the teeth 86 and 87. The arm 116 is in the position shown at approximately 6.3() a. m. and its end 118 is about to engagev a cam face 120 of pawl 109. As the arm 116 moves on, the pawl 109 is first rocked about its pivot 108 against the tension of the spring 112 and its end 121 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 6. Thereafter, the end 118 of the arm engages a projection 122 of the lever and further movement of the arm .116 moves the star wheel 84 a distance corresponding to 1/96th of a complete rotation, such movement resulting in the end of the lever 109 abutting the shoulder 114. The pawl 54 is now just past the end of the tooth 87 and the pin 102 is in the center of the slot 100. The commutator is held from movement by friction of the brushes against the projections on ring and contact segment respectively.

Further movement of the wheel 84 is now effected by the pawl 54 under action of the spring 56 and both the star and the disk 96 are driven forward a distance equal to another 1/96th circumference making a total movement of 1/48 of a circumference. The spring 104 is also brought into action and moves. the disk 96 a sufficient distance to position the shoulder 114 again at a distance of 1/96th of a. complete circumference from the end 121 of the pawl 109. The contact segment 94 is now positioned opposite the brush and if ay key 28 has already been pushed in at this point the radio circuit will be rendered effective and the radio turned on. After a half hour period the arm 13 will again become effective to operate the wheel 84 in the usual way and the pawl 54 will then seat itself between the tooth 88 and the next adjacent tooth following. The circuit will then be broken if there is no key pushed in at this point.

While I have shown for purposes of illustration but a single lever 109 and one shoulder 114, it is, of course, obvious that several of these may be provided about the circumference of the wheel 84 and provision thereby made for controlling half hour periods at different times of the day.

In Figure 8 I have shown a modified construction which is lsimilar in many respects .to the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the arm 13 is directlyconnected with the minute arbor 124 of a clock movement. This arbor extends through a supporting bracket or bearing 126 and is provided with the usual setting knob 128. By turning this one way or the other, the minute hand star wheel 20 in Figure 8 is the same as the wheel similarly indicated in Figure 1, the commutator and contact keys or pins being likewise similarly constructed.

In Figure 9 I have shown a different form of commutator. In this view the wheel 144 may be either a star wheel or any other suitable wheel or disk driven once in twentyfour hours, either directly or indirectly, by suitable connection to a constantly running motor properly controlled to indicate time. With the construction shown, the wheel 144 may be driven intermittently by an arm such as 13, as shown in Figure 8, or it may be driven at a constant speed uniformly. When so driven, contact with a brush indicated at 30 is eieeted by contact segments having insulating portions 146 between each segment and of a circumferential extent equal to that of the contact face of the brush. Keys 28 numbered as in Figure 2 are provided and any of these may be set to determine the periods during which a circuit for turning on lights or for turning on a radio set or for any other purpose may be controlled.

In Figures 10 to 13 I have shown another modification although the general principle of operation is the same as in the previously described forms: 2 indicates a clock motor or other suitable constantly running timing element connected by clutch members 6 and 8 with a shaft 10 similar to the same parts as shown in Figure 2. Secured to the shaft is an arm 13 and anarm 16 corresponding precisely to the same' arms shown in Figures 5 and 6 operating on-a star wheel 84 in the manner previously described. rI`he shaft 10 also carries a toothed wheel 150 which meshes with a similar toothed wheel 152 and this again with a toothed wheel 154. The toothed wheel 154 engages a pin wheel 156 having a dial inscribed with numerals about its periphery visible through a sight opening 160. The star wheel 84 meshes with a similar pin wheel 162 also having' a dial about which are inscribed fiQ'ures visible through a sight opening 164. The star wheel 84is carried by a shaft 166 supported in a bracket 168 arising from a base 170. The shaft 166 is supported stead of being made up of separate segments insulated from one another, is in the present modification composed of a plurality of electrically conductive disks 174 all supported on the shaft 166 and turnable therewith and with the star Wheel 84. Each of these disks carries a projecting cam-like portion as shown at 176, Figure 11, and the idisks are so arranged on the shaft that these shoulders or projections are circumferentially offset from the shoulder of the adjacent disk so that as the wheel 84 is intermittently operated by the arm 13 or the arm 116, the disks are all intermittently turned and bring their shoulder or projection successively opposite the ends of the controller keys 178. One of these is shown in Figure 11 the keys being mounted in a recessed bar 180 and are urged in contactengaging position by a spring 182. Each key also carries -an abutment 184 and a spring 186 is provided for engaging behind this abutment when a key is pulled out, thereby holding the contact free. When the key is pushed in it is yieldingly -held in contact with the particular disk by the spring 182.

segment and movable at will into and out of engagement with the contact ring.

3. In combination, a time lcontrol element comprising a cont-act ring, a brush in continuous engagement therewith, a plurality of electrically conducting segments insulated from each other and movable with said ring, each segment being spirally shaped at its periphery and a contact brush for successively engaging said segments as the time control element is moved and means for at will electrically connecting any segment with said contact ring.

4. In combination, a time control element comprising a Contact ring, a brush in continuous engagement therewith, a plurality of electrically conducting segments insulated from eachother and movable with said ring, each segment being spirally shaped at its periphery and a key carried by each segment for at will connecting any segment with said contact ring.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 18th day of February, 1930.

EMILE BRUGGER.

There are twenty-five selecting keys and one switch key 186 for throwing the automatic period selecting mechanism out of operation when desired.

The current enters at the key 186, which key when pushed in makes Contact with a distributing wheel 188 having a number of projections about its circumference equal to the total number on all the disks 174.

Wheel 188 is connected by a wire 190 to the adjacent disk 174 and each of these is1 connected to the one next to it by a similar wire 191. The last key to the rightjis connected to the out lead 192. In Figure 12 the key 5 is out and therefore the radiowill be operated every hour except from ive to six.

A number of variations may be resorted to all withinthe scope of the invention without departing from the sp-irit thereof, and some of' the parts may be used without others.

What is claimed is new is:

1. In an electrical contact mechanism invcluding a series of contact elements and a contact brush therefor; in combination, a star wheel, a part' moved by a clock mechanism for engaging and moving said wheel approximately half the distance between two of its teeth, a spring pawl for effecting the remaining step of movement, means for connecting the contact elements with said star wheel during its movement under action of said pawl and mechanism for moving said star wheel a half step at certain times.

2. In combination, a time `control element comprising a contact ring, a brush in continuous engagement therewith, a Jplurality of segmental electrically conducting elements insuj lated from each other movable with said ring and each representing a time interval and an electrically conducting key carried by each 

